Branch connection box for trunking, in particular for trunking that passes through a floor

ABSTRACT

A branch connection box for trunking includes a base and a cover. The base includes a central housing delimited by partitions that can be cut and form an electrical connection box and, around the central housing, an open path for routing electrical conductors or cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a branch connection box fortrunking, in particular for trunking that passes through a floor,including a base and a cover.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] One prior art branch connection box includes a separator whichcan be positioned above the base to create two mutually-isolated levelswithin the box.

[0005] The base and the separator of the prior art branch connection boxinclude vertical partitions in a quincunx arrangement which can be cutto create paths for routing electrical conductors or cables.

[0006] The main drawback of the above kind of branch connection box isthat it is relatively complicated to use because the installer must cutthe partitions of the base and the separator as required in order topass the electrical conductors or cables from one run of trunking to theother.

[0007] Also, the above kind of branch connection box does not includeany housing constituting a connection box within the branch connectionbox.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] To remedy the above drawbacks, the present invention proposes abranch connection box for trunking, the box including a base and acover, wherein the base includes a central housing delimited bypartitions that can be cut and forming an electrical connection box and,around the central housing, an open path for routing electricalconductors or cables.

[0009] Thus in the branch connection box according to the invention, andin conformance with the applicable standards, the connections betweenthe electrical cables or conductors from the runs of trunking can bemade inside the central housing forming an electrical connection box,the electrical cables or conductors to be connected in the centralhousing arriving via an opening formed by cutting one of the partitionsdelimiting the central housing on the base.

[0010] One preferred embodiment of the branch connection box accordingto the invention includes a separator adapted to be positioned above thebase to create in the box two levels isolated from each other, namely alevel for high-current conductors or cables and a level for low-currentconductors or cables, wherein the separator has a central openingthrough it flanked by partitions which can be cut and, on each face ofthe separator, around the central opening, an open path for routingelectrical conductors or cables, the central opening forming anextension of the central housing of the base.

[0011] Advantageously, in this preferred embodiment of the branchconnection box according to the invention the partitions flanking thecentral opening of the separator and on the side facing toward the baseform guide surfaces which slide on the partitions delimiting the centralhousing of the base during mounting of the separator on the base.

[0012] The above kind of branch connection box is easy to use becausethe open paths for routing electrical conductors or cables on the baseand on the separator enable the installer to route electrical conductorsor cables quickly from one run of trunking to another.

[0013] Also, the separator is easy to position on the base because itsguide surfaces slide on the partitions delimiting the central housing ofthe base.

[0014] According to another particularly advantageous feature of thebranch connection box according to the invention the separator can beplaced at different positions in the heightwise direction relative tothe base between top and bottom limiting positions to adapt the wiringvolume of the two levels as required.

[0015] To this end the separator is slidably mounted on the base sectionand in particular the separator includes elastic tongues whose ends areadapted to slide in grooves on the outside face of upstanding chimneyson the base.

[0016] According to another feature of the branch connection boxaccording to the invention the cover is in two parts, namely a firstpart forming a belt adapted to cover the base and including a peripheralside wall provided with openings communicating with the interior of thetrunking and a front wall provided with a central opening providingaccess to the interior of the branch connection box and in particular tothe central housing and to at least part of the path for routingelectrical conductors or cables, and a closure plate for closing thefront wall of the belt part.

[0017] When it is partly closed by the belt part positioned on the base,the cover of the branch connection box provides access to the interiorof the branch connection box via the central opening in the front wallof the belt part.

[0018] In one embodiment of the branch connection box according to theinvention the belt part is fixed to the base by screws screwed intochimneys on the base.

[0019] In one embodiment the belt part is fixed to the plate, which itcovers, by screws that are screwed into chimneys on the plate.

[0020] To this end the front wall of the part belt advantageouslycarries guide studs for the fixing screws adapted to bear on ends of thechimneys.

[0021] Further, in accordance with other advantageous and non-limitingfeatures of the branch connection box according to the invention:

[0022] the branch connection box includes covers attached to unusedopenings in the belt part to close them off,

[0023] the central housing of the base is circular and in conjunctionwith the open path forms a roundabout for routing electrical conductorsor cables,

[0024] the open paths for routing electrical conductors or cables of thebase and the separator are identical in shape and the central opening inthe separator is identical in shape to the central housing of the base,

[0025] the base has, on its edges adapted to be placed adjacent cut endsof base sections of runs of trunking, partitions defining, inconjunction with partitions at the edges of the separator,parallelepiped-shaped housings isolated from each other and open towardthe outside of the box, the partitions of the base and the separatorbeing adapted to be cut to form ducts for inserting electricalconductors or cables at one of the levels of the box, isolated from theother level thereof, and

[0026] the branch connection box includes a plate in the form of a frameclipped around the base and adapted to be covered by the belt part ofthe cover, the plate in the form of a frame having, on its edges adaptedto be placed adjacent cut ends of base sections of runs of trunking,partitions defining, in conjunction with partitions on the edges of theseparator, parallelepiped-shaped housings isolated from each other andopen toward the outside of the box, the partitions of the plate and ofthe separator being adapted to be cut to form ducts for insertingelectrical conductors or cables at one of the levels of the box,isolated from its other level.

[0027] The following description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which are provided by way of non-limiting example, explains inwhat the invention consists and how it can be put into effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodimentof a branch connection box according to the invention.

[0029]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the branch connection box shown inFIG. 1 when assembled and partly opened.

[0030]FIG. 3 is a detail viewing showing the mounting of a separator ona base of the branch connection box shown in FIG. 1 in a bottom limitingposition.

[0031]FIG. 4 is a detail viewing showing the mounting of the separatoron the base of the branch connection box shown in FIG. 1 in a toplimiting position.

[0032]FIG. 5 is a three-quarter perspective view of the separator of thebranch connection box shown in FIG. 1.

[0033]FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a different embodiment of thebase of the branch connection box according to the invention.

[0034]FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a further embodiment of thebase of the branch connection box according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a branch connection box 100 for trunking and inparticular for trunking that passes through a floor.

[0036] The branch connection box 100 has a base 110 in the form of asquare plate adapted to be fixed to a support, which support is thefloor in the case of trunking that passes through a floor or a verticalsupport in the case of wall-mounted trunking, by means of screws engagedin openings 119 provided for this purpose at the four corners of thebase.

[0037] Each edge 116 of the base 110 is adapted to be positionedadjacent a cut edge of a base section of a run of trunking.

[0038] The base 110 includes a central housing ill delimited bypartitions 112 carried by the base 110 and which can be cut.

[0039] The central housing 111 forms an electrical connection box insidethe branch connection box in which electrical connections can be madebetween electrical conductors or cables from different runs of trunkingopening into the branch connection box 100.

[0040] An open path 113 for routing electrical conductors or cables isdefined around the central housing 111.

[0041] As shown here, the central housing 111 in the base 110 ispreferably circular and forms with the open path 113 a roundabout forrouting electrical cables or conductors.

[0042] The branch connection box 100 further includes a separator 120adapted to be positioned on top of the base 110 to define in the box twolevels isolated from each other, one level for high-current conductorsor cables and one level for low-current conductors or cables.

[0043] The separator 120 takes the form of a square plate identical tothat of the base and advantageously includes a central opening 121through it and flanked by partitions 122 which project from each face ofthe separator, together with an open path 123 for routing electricalconductors or cables on each face of the separator, around the centralopening 121.

[0044] The central opening 121 through the separator forms an extensionof the central housing 111 of the base 110 (see FIG. 2).

[0045] The partitions 122 around the central opening 121 in theseparator 120 can also be cut to form electrical conductor or cableentries into the connection box formed by the stacked central openingsof the base and the separator.

[0046] The central opening 121 through the separator 120 isadvantageously exactly the same shape as the central housing of the base110, of course, the shapes of the open paths 113, 123 for routingelectrical conductors or cables of the base and the separator also beingidentical.

[0047] The partitions 122 around the central opening 121 in theseparator 120 and on the side facing toward the base 110 advantageouslyalso form guide surfaces which slide on the partitions 112 delimitingthe central housing 111 of the base 110 when the separator 120 is fittedto the base 110.

[0048] It is therefore particularly easy to mount the separator 120 onthe base 110, and when the separator 120 is mounted on the base 110 theconnection box of the branch connection box is locally isolated from thecable routing path by a double partition consisting of the stackedpartitions 112, 122 on the base and the separator.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular, the separator 120 isadapted to be placed at different positions in the heightwise directionrelative to the base 110 between a top limiting position (see FIG. 4)and a bottom limiting position (see FIG. 3), to adapt the wiring volumeof the two levels of the branch connection box as required.

[0050] To this end, the separator 120 is slidably mounted on the base110.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in the figures the separator 120incorporates integral elastic tongues 124 cut into the plate forming theseparator, whose ends open into circular housings 125 which can bethreaded over chimneys 115 on the base section, the ends of the elastictongues 124 being able to slide in grooves 114 on the outside face ofthe chimneys 115.

[0052] Of course, the ends of the elastic tongues 124 hold the separator120 in position on the chimneys 115 by friction and the position of theseparator 120 relative to the base 110 is adjusted by pushing theseparator 120 down or pulling it up so that the elastic tongues 124slide in the grooves 114 in the chimneys 115.

[0053] The branch connection box 100 further includes a cover 130 which,as shown here, is advantageously in two parts, namely a belt part 131adapted to cover the base 110, the first part 131 having a peripheralside wall 133 with arch-shaped openings 134 communicating with theinterior of a run of trunking positioned adjacent the branch connectionbox, and a front wall 135 in which there is a central opening 136providing access to the interior of the branch connection box, and inparticular to the central housing 111, and to at least part of the path123 for routing electrical conductors or cables, and a closure plate 132for the front wall 135 of the belt part 131.

[0054] The central opening 136 in the belt part 131 of the cover 130 ispreferably in the shape of a four-leaf clover, as shown here, the leavesof which extend from a central area that is centered on the centralhousing 111, 121 forming the connection box of the branch connection box100.

[0055] The openings defined by the leaves of the central opening 136 inthe belt part 131 provide access to the open path 123 for routing cablesprovided in the branch connection box 100.

[0056] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the belt part 131 of thecover of the branch connection box 100 is fixed to the base 110 byscrews that screw into chimneys 115 on the base section 110.

[0057] The chimneys 115 are those used for slidable mounting of theseparator 120 on the base 110.

[0058] To this end, the front wall 135 of the belt part 131 carriesguide studs 137 each of which is at the junction between two leaves ofthe central opening 136 in the shape of a four-leaf clover. The studsare designed to rest on the ends of the chimneys 115 on the base 110.

[0059] On the inside of the guide studs 137 is an annular rim supportingthe head of each fixing screw.

[0060] The closure plate 132 clips onto the front wall 135 of the beltpart 131.

[0061] To be more specific, the square closure plate 132 has at its fourcorners L-shaped clips 139 which clip into openings 138 of complementaryshape in the four corners of the front wall 135 of the belt part 131 ofthe cover 130.

[0062] Covers 140 whose shape is complementary to that of the arch-shapeopenings 134 in the peripheral side wall 133 of the belt part 131 can beattached to the unused arch-shaped openings 134 in the belt part 131 toblock them off (see FIG. 2).

[0063] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the base 110 has, at itsedges 116 that can be positioned adjacent the cut ends of the basesections of runs of trunking, partitions 117, 118 which can be cut andwhich, in conjunction with partitions 127, 128 on the edges 126 of theseparator 120 (see FIG. 5), define parallelepiped-shaped housingsisolated from each other and open toward the outside of the branchconnection box.

[0064] The partitions 117, 118, 127, 128 of the base 110 and theseparator 120 can be cut to form ducts for inserting electricalconductors or cables at one level of the box, isolated from its otherlevel.

[0065] The partitions 117, 118, 127, 128 are cut as required by theinstaller, of course.

[0066] The various components of the branch connection box previouslydescribed are advantageously molded from plastics material.

[0067] The present invention is in no way limited to the embodimentdescribed and shown and many variants thereof within the scope of theinvention will suggest themselves to the skilled person.

[0068] For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the base section 110could have at its edges 116 means 150 for clipping on a square plate(not shown) for mounting a belt part of a closure cover section havinggreater dimensions than those of the base section.

[0069] To this end, the square plate clipped around the base 110 wouldthen have at its peripheral edges partitions for isolated entry ofdifferent electrical conductors into the branch connection box atdifferent levels.

[0070] The plate in the form of a frame (not shown) around the basecould include the chimneys that receive the separator and to which thebelt part of the cover is screwed, in which case the base 110 of thebranch connection box would be simplified (see FIG. 7 in particular) asit would no longer include the chimneys.

There is claimed:
 1. A branch connection box for trunking, said boxincluding a base and a cover, wherein said base includes a centralhousing delimited by partitions that can be cut and forming anelectrical connection box and, around said central housing, an open pathfor routing electrical conductors or cables.
 2. The branch connectionbox claimed in claim 1 including a separator adapted to be positionedabove said base to create in said box two levels isolated from eachother, namely a level for high-current conductors or cables and a levelfor low-current conductors or cables, wherein said separator has acentral opening through it flanked by partitions which can be cut and,on each face of said separator, around said central opening, an openpath for routing electrical conductors or cables, said central openingforming an extension of said central housing of said base.
 3. The branchconnection box claimed in claim 2 wherein said partitions flanking saidcentral opening of said separator and on the side facing toward saidbase form guide surfaces which slide on said partitions delimiting saidcentral housing of said base during mounting of said separator on saidbase.
 4. The branch connection box claimed in claim 2 wherein saidseparator can be placed at different positions in the heightwisedirection relative to said base between top and bottom limitingpositions to adapt the wiring volume of said two levels as required. 5.The branch connection box claimed in claim 4 wherein said separator isslidably mounted on said base section.
 6. The branch connection boxclaimed in claim 5 wherein said separator includes elastic tongues whoseends are adapted to slide in grooves on the outside face of upstandingchimneys on said base.
 7. The branch connection box claimed in claim 1wherein said cover is in two parts, namely a first part forming a beltadapted to cover said base and including a peripheral side wall providedwith openings communicating with the interior of said trunking and afront wall provided with a central opening providing access to theinterior of said branch connection box and in particular to said centralhousing and to at least part of said path for routing electricalconductors or cables, and a closure plate for closing said front wall ofsaid belt part.
 8. The branch connection box claimed in claim 7 whereinsaid belt part is fixed to said base by screws screwed into chimneys onsaid base.
 9. The branch connection box claimed in claim 7 including aplate in the form of a frame clipped around said base and wherein saidbelt part of said cover is fixed to said plate, which it covers, byscrews that are screwed into chimneys on said plate.
 10. The branchconnection box claimed in claim 8 wherein said front wall of said partbelt carries guide studs for said fixing screws adapted to bear on endsof said chimneys.
 11. The branch connection box claimed in claim 7wherein said closure plate clips onto said front wall of said belt part.12. The branch connection box claimed in claim 7 including coversattached to unused openings in said belt part to close them off.
 13. Thebranch connection box claimed in claim 1 wherein said central housing ofsaid base is circular and in conjunction with said open path forms aroundabout for routing electrical conductors or cables.
 14. The branchconnection box claimed in claim 2 wherein said open paths for routingelectrical conductors or cables of said base and said separator areidentical in shape and said central opening in said separator isidentical in shape to said central housing of said base.
 15. The branchconnection box claimed in claim 2 wherein said base has, on its edgesadapted to be placed adjacent cut ends of base sections of runs oftrunking, partitions defining, in conjunction with partitions at theedges of said separator, parallelepiped-shaped housings isolated fromeach other and open toward the outside of said box, said partitions ofsaid base and said separator being adapted to be cut to form ducts forinserting electrical conductors or cables at one of said levels of saidbox, isolated from the other level thereof.
 16. The branch connectionbox claimed in claim 7 including a plate in the form of a frame clippedaround said base and adapted to be covered by said belt part of saidcover, said plate in the form of a frame having, on its edges adapted tobe placed adjacent cut ends of base sections of runs of trunking,partitions defining, in conjunction with partitions on the edges of saidseparator, parallelepiped-shaped housings isolated from each other andopen toward the outside of said box, said partitions of said plate andof said separator being adapted to be cut to form ducts for insertingelectrical conductors or cables at one of said levels of said box,isolated from its other level.